Snow-removing mechanism



ug. 17, 1943. w, E, KLAUER 2,327,193

SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1940 8 sheets-Sheet 1 g NQS* Iull.: Ik :a

Aug. 17, 1943. W. E, KLAUER SNOW REMOVING .MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 17, 1943. w, E, KLAUER 2,327,193

SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed Feb. l5 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 w. E. KLAUER 2,327,193

sNow REMOVING MECHANISM Aug. 17, 1943.

Filed Feb. 15, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 17, 1943. w. E. KLAUER sNow REMOVING MEcHANsM Filed Feb. l15, 1940 e sheets-sheet 5 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Allg- 17, 1943- w. E. KLAUER- Y SNOW REMOVING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1940 Aug 17, 1943 w. E. KLAUER SNOW AREMOVING MECHANISM a sheets-sheet 7 Filed Feb. 15, 1940 aum/M4416 Aug. 17, 1943. w. E. KLAUER v y 2,327,193

SNOW REMOVING' MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1940 e sheets-sheet s Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT `QFFICE p Vatv/27,193 Y i snow-neinovrno Manne-instr Vifalter E. Klaner, Dubuque, Iowa if) Ciaims.

The invention relates to snow removing mechanism and particularly to the mounting of such mechanism on a tractor, especially a tractor of the endless track type;

vSo far as I am `aware'no one has heetoforc provided a successful mounting and drive for a power operated snow remover on a tractor. Efforts have been made to drive snow removers of this type by a power take-o from the tractor d iving engine. However, such an arrangement is inadequate as the tractor engi vdoes not provide sucient power for both moving the tractor and operating the snow remover, particuiarly in deep snow,

The primary object of the invention therefore is to provide a tractor having an auxiliary source of power 'for opera-tingV the snow remover independent of the ordinary motor forv driving the tractor.

A further Aobject of the invention is to provide a manner o mounting a motor constituting s 'ch an auxiliary source of power in such'a way that it does not interfere with the normal operation of the tractor.

Stili another object of the invention is to pro-v A further object of the invention iswto `mount asno-W remover on a tractor in such a manner as to transmit to the tractor in a simple and effective fashion allthe force to which the snow remover is subjected.

Tractors are now produced in which the individual tracks are mounted to swing about the rear axle independently of the'body of each other, in such a way thatthe movement of the tracks over irregularities does not tilt the body itself.

Still another object of the invention is to mount a snow remover 'on a tractor of this Vtype in such a way that the snow remover may reof the movement of theV tracks. A

A further object of the invention is to 'provide a mounting for a snow remover on a tractor of the type just described which is such that the lifting mechanism for the snow remover moves with the movable tracks',` while the 'snow remover itself may remain level in spite of the displacement of the tracks. s

main level With respect to theA tractolrregardl'ess removeron the rear ofthe tractor, both the snow remover and the drivingA motor being;v

Still another objectief the invention is to arrange and connect the lifting means in such a manner that the Weight ci the snow remover acts to hold its driving motor more :securelyon the tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide anoveldriving shaft connecting a motor on the rear-,of` thetractor -f the type just described with a snow remover on the front thereof, the mounting, for this shaft including a loearintr which moves with the tracks.

Stili another object of the invention is to providev -push means forthe bottom part or the snow remover which extend beneath the tractor and between the wheels and tracks, and which are connected at the rear of the tractor. A .further object is to provide on such push means an arrangement for transmitting side thrust into the frame lof the tractor at an intermediate pointY of the pushl means.

En general, the invention contempiatcs VtheV mounting of thesnovv remover on the front or tractor, and 'of the driving motor for the snow mounted respectively in iront of and behind the rear axles of the tractor, in this way it is possible to obtain adequate balance on the tractorso that the tracks grip the groundadequately along their full length. Especially, the invention contemplatesthe mounting of the motor in such a way that its crankshaft is transverse with respect to the tractor, which is particularly advantageous in obtaining the proper Abalance and proper drive, Without unnecessarily lengtheningthe unit.: Y Y

Further objectsV and advantages ofthe invention will appear more fully from the following description,A particularly when taken in ,conjunction with the accompanying drawings which forni a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig.' l is a side eievetion of a unit embodying the invention; A e

2 r,is atop plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a'front elevation of the una with the snow vremover omitted; Y

Fig', 4; is a top plan vieWof a portion'of the pushing mechanism for the bottom of the snow remover; f

y Fig. 4a is a continuationet the left-hand end of Fig. 4

Fig.- 5 is a cross-section Figlia;

on the line Y 5--5 of Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the front part of the unit with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a detailed top plan view of one of thek lifting mechanisms;

Fig. 8 is a detailed side view thereof;

Figs. 9 and l0 are detailed cross-sections on the lines S- and lil-lil respectively of Fig. 7;

Fig. ll is a cross-section on the line ll--ii of Fig. 6;

Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views from the left and right respectively of portions of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the connecting frame-between the lifting mechanism and the snow remover;

Fig. 15 is a front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 16 is a cross-section on the line IE--G of Fig. l5.

The invention is applied to a tractor having a rear axle 2 and a Yfront axle fl on which are mounted wheels S and (i respectively, these wheels forming the supports for a conventional endless track lil. The tractor further includes a motor i2 connected to rear wheels 6 and a drivers seat l.

The tractor is preferably of the type in which the whole frame l5 in which is mounted the front wheel S and axle l 'can turn about the rear axle 2. This is accomplished for example by mounting the rear end of frame l on the rear axle 2.

The body frame 2G of the tractor Vis suitably connected to a transverse leaf spring 24 which extends transversely, and the ends of which rest on seats 26 carried by means i6 (see Figs. 11-and i3) l l It is obvious that this construction permits either of the front wheels to move upwardly against the spring 24 without tilting the tractor frame, and independently of the other front wheel. The specic construction of the tractor itself forms no part of my invention.

The snow remover isindicated generally at 28 and may be for example of the type shown in my earlier Patent No. 2,144,311. It constitutes as shownv in that patent an open-front casing containing augers 30 and behind which is arranged a fan casing 32 having a discharge spout.

vThe motor I2 for driving the tractor is of course connected in a conventional manner to the rear wheels 6. The motor for driving the snow remover is indicated at 34. It is mounted by triangular brackets 36 and a frame 31 on the rear of the tractor frame, and this frame 3l is connected to thetractor in a secure manner.

The motor is'oi any conventional type,` usually constituted by a Diesel engine. It is arranged in such a manner that its crankshaft 4Q extends transversely oi the tractor. It may be controlled in any suitable manner by a driver seated in the seat lll, who at the saine time can operate and control the tractor itself.

The snow remover 22B has a bottom frame member extending transversely thereof. Connected to this fra-nie member are upwardly and rearwardly inclined barsill. The upper ends of these barsare provided with blocks 45 slidably guided on push guides 48 of`T shape which are mounted on the front of the tractor by brackets il secured to a longitudinal frame member 49 of the tractor chassis.

To these blocks are also connected bent frame member 58 which is connected at its ends to the top frame member e4 of the snow remover-frame. The snow remover is thus guided for up and down movement on the tractor.

Lifting mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the snow remover. A particular feature of the invention resides in the fact that this mechanism is so arranged as to partake in part at least of the movement of the front wheels of the tractor, while the snow remover itself is kept level with respect to the tractor even though the iront wheels of the tracto-r may be tilted with respect to each other.v

The motor frame Si carries brackets 54, to each of which is pivoted as at Eil a longitudinally extending beam composed ci opposed channel members 5S having between their edges a slot 63 (see Figs. '7 to l0) At their forward ends beams are bent in and brought together, as at G2, until their flanges meet. Between the forward ends of these beams 53 is mounted on a shaft 64 a pulley 65. This pulley serves as a guide for a chain GS which is connected to the snow remover in a manner to be described below at one end, and at its other end is connected to a coil spring l arranged within the beam formed by members 53.

Spring 'it at its other end is connected to a U-shaped rod l2, at the closed end thereof. ri'he legs of rod 'l2 pass through a block 'M and are provided beyond the block with nuts 15 so as to connect them to the block. Pivoted to block lill by aY pin 'i8 is a piston 80 which is slidable in a conventional hydraulic cylinder B2 supplied with uid at its forward end by a pipe 84.

channel members 53.

It is obvious that the admission cf luidvunder pressure to pipe S4 and cylinder 82 will move piston Bil rearwardly with respect to the tractor and will thus exert a pull through spring 10 on chain til. Pipe 84 is connected through a control valve of conventional nature to a pump operated preferably by motor 34. This arrangement is vconventional and does not form any part of the invention. Provided in the line 84 adjacent to cylinder 82 is a manual control valve 96, by which the pipe 8-3 may be closed off. The purpose of this is to permit the operator to lock the cylinder with the snow remover in raised position, so that leakage through the control valve which might otherwise permit the snow remover to slip down cannot occur.

Chains 68 extend downwardly from pulleys GS to a connecting arrangement shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 14 to 16. Chains Q8 are connected to two opposite ends of a transverse bar 92 of T section, which has at its center downwardly extending members Sb secured to truss member 91, so that the whole unit forms a rigid beam. A link 98 is pivoted to this beam by a pin Idil adjacent the top of member 9S. This link is in the nature of a strap in the lower end of which is mounted a transverse member` |02 which is connected to the snow remover in a manner to be described below.

It is obvious that with this arrangement the admission of fluid to thevcylinders will exert a tension on the chains which will be transmitted evenly through the link 98 to lift the snow remover with respect to the tractor.

- In order to transmit motion of the front wheels to the beams 5S and thus to the lifting mechanism, there is arranged (see Figs. l and 11 to 13) intermediate each beam Eil a bracket lili: to which are nivo-ted rearwardly and downwardly inclined links H16, lill, outside and inside the tracks respectively, the rear ends of these links being pivof the tractor to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the tractor, said means comprising beams carried by said tractor, hydraulic mechanism carried by said beams, pulleys mounted at the front ends of said beams, flexible members connected to said hydraulic mechanism and extending over said pulleys, a transverse member connected to both said flexible members, and means connecting the central portion of said transverse member to the snow remover.

4.1m. combination with a tractor having a frame and fro-nt and rear wheels, and endless tracks carried by said wheels; a power operated snow remover, means mounting said snow remover on the front of the tractor, a motor mounted on the rear of said tractor, means connecting said motor to said snow remover to drive theV same, said means comprising a shaft extending above one of said tracks, and therefore within the lateral connes of the tractor.

5. ln combination with a tractor having a frame and front and rear wheels, and endless tracks carried by said wheels; a power operated snow remover, means mounting Said snow remover on the iront of the tractor, a motor mounted on the rear oi said tractor, means connecting said motor to said snow remover to drive the same, said means comprisinga shaft extending above said tracks and having universal joints therein, and a bearingfor an intermediate portion of said shaft mounted on said tractor.

6. In combination with a tractor having a frame and front and rear wheels, a rear axle supported by said rear wheels, means mounting said front wheels for independent vertical movement with respect to said frame, said means comprising members mounted to turn about the rear axle and carrying said front wheels, and endless tracks kcarried bysaid respective sets of front and rear wheels; a power operated snow remover, means mounting said snow remover on the front ofthe tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto, aA motor mounted on the rear of said tractor, means connecting said motor to saidk snow remover 4to drive the same, said means comprising a shaft extending above one of said tracks and having universal joints therein, and a bearing for an intermediate portion of said shaft mounted for movement with said iront wheel mounting means.

7. In combination with a tractor o the endless track type having a frame member at the rear thereof, a snow remover mounted on the front oi Vthe tractor, and means to transfer forces from the snow remover to the tractor, said means extending beneath the tractor and between the tracks thereof, and comprising a frame connected at its front end to the bottom portion of the snow remover, a frame connected at its rear end to the frame member of the tractor, means connected to the tractor and to the front part of the first said frame to support said iront end, both said frames extending between the tracks, and means connecting the adjacent ends of said frames, said first frame having means at its iront end engaging the tractor to prevent lateral movement of said iront end with respect to the tractor.

8.111 combination with a tractor having a frame and front and rear wheels, and endless tracks carried by said wheels; a power operated road machine, means mounting said road machine on the front of the tractor, a motor mounted on the rear of said tractor, means Connecting said motor to said road machine to drive the same, said last means comprising a shaft extending above one of said tracks and having universal joints therein, and a bearing for an intermediate portion of said shait mounted on said tractor.

9. ln combination with a tractor having a frame and front and rear wheels, means mounting said iront wheels for independent vertical movement with respect to said iframe, comprising members mounted to turn about the rear axle and carrying said front wheels, and endless tracks carried by said wheels, a snow remover, a motor mounted at the rear of said tractor, means connecting said motor to the snow remover to operate the same, means mounting said snow remover on the iront of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto, and means on opposite sides of the tractor to raise and lower the snow remover with respect to the tractor, said means comprising beams pivoted adjacent the rear of said tractor to said motor and xtending to a point adjacent the front of the tractor,I means connecting intermediate points of said beams to said iront wheel mounting means for movement therewith, said last means comprising links on the inside and outside or" said tracks connected to said beams and to said frames, said links being downwardly and rear- Wardly inclined.

i0, In combination with a tractor lnving a frame and iront and rear wheels, a rear Vaxle supported by said rear wheels, means mounting said front wheels for independent vertical movement with respect to said frame,V said means comprising members mounted to turn about the rear axle and carrying said front wheels, and endless tracks carried by said' respective sets of iront and rear wheels; a. power operated snow remover, means mounting said snow remover on the front of the tractor for vertical movement with respect thereto, means for raising and lowering said snow remover with' respect to the tractor, said raising and lowering means Comprising beams each disposed above and connected with one of said iront wheel carrying means to partake cf its independent vertical movement, operable connections between said beams and said snow remover for raising the latter with respect to said beams, all whereby the snow remover may be raised and lowered both in accordance with the vertical movement of said wheel carrying means and also independently thereof, a motor mounted on the rear of said tractor, means connecting said motor to said snowgremover to drive the same, said means comprising a shaft extending above one of said tracks and having universal joints therein, and a bearing for an intermediate portion of said shaft mounted on one of said beams for movement with said front wheel mounting means. l

-WALTER, E. KLAUER. 

